Terra Environmental Technologies displayed the sort of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) dispenser that truck fleets might have at their terminals with refueling operations. DEF will be needed after 2010 for diesel engines that use selective catalytic reduction for emission control.

Charles "Shorty" Whittington [center], American Trucking Associations chairman and president of Grammer Industries Inc, accepted the keys to a new Volvo VN780 tractor on behalf of ATA's America's Road Team.

Per Carlsson, VTNA president and CEO, and Scott Kress, VTNA senior vice-president, sales & marketing, presented the Volvo tractor, which will transport ATA's new image trailer. Whittington later presented the keys to the tractor to Ronald Hawkins Jr, ATA Road Team member and driver for K-Limited Ltd.

TRUCK-LITE'S Department of Transportation (DOT)-compliant 7" round LED (light-emitting diode) headlamp, now available in 12-volt, is showing bright possibilities for heavy- and medium-duty trucks and off-road vehicles.

Western Star's Limited Edition 67 celebrates the year the company's trucks were introduced to the North America market. Just 100 of the specially outfitted Western Star 4900 trucks will be manufactured in 2009.

China International Marine Container Co (CIMC), Qingdao, Shandong, China, exhibited a foodgrade stainless steel tank trailer built in Belgium by Burg Industries, a company owned 80% by CIMC. While such a tank trailer is not legal on US highways, David Li, deputy general manager of CIMC Vehicles Group Co Ltd and president of CIMC USA Inc, indicated during the Mid-America Trucking Show that CIMC plans eventually to enter the North American tank truck market with cargo tanks of European design, Chinese manufacture, and US assembly.

Daimler Trucks North America's Innovation Truck showed a view of the future that isn't all that distant. Much of the technology previewed on the tractor is already available on Freightliner's Cascadia or will be soon.

DAN McPHERSON of DANMAC Trucking Inc in Cameron NC has won four new Michelin X One XDN2 wide single truck tires mounted on Alcoa aluminum rims, courtesy of Michelin and Alcoa. McPherson's name was selected from nearly 1,000 entries at a live drawing held March 21, 2009 at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville KY.

HENDRICKSON'S weight-saving SOFTEK integrated front suspension and steer axle system now comes standard on International LoneStar trucks. SOFTEK will also be available as an option on the International ProStar series, Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems officials announced.

MAC Trailer Manufacturing stole the show at the Mid-America Trucking Show with the launch of its PneuMACtic dry bulker. The two trailers on display had a 1,050-cu-ft capacity that would be ideal for cement and fly ash. Note the European design influence in the front and rear bulkheads. MAC has the ability to produce about 500 dry bulk trailers a year.